A new developed four-component biodiesel combustion skeletal mechanism comprising methyl decenoate, methyl-5-decenoate, n-decane and methyl linoleate is presented in this work, which could predict soot formation trends with varying fatty acid methyl esters proportion. It was established based on a detailed n-heptane mechanism, HACA-mechanism and our previously developed four-component biodiesel combustion skeletal mechanism without soot formation mechanism. This new developed mechanism consists of 134 species and 475 reactions. In order to validate the feasibility of this new skeletal mechanism, ignition delay testing, constant volume combustion chamber experiment testing and diesel engine experiment testing were performed. The result indicates that it is suitable to predict ignition behavior, flame lift-off length, soot shape and distribution, cylinder pressures, heat release rate and NOx emission trends of biodiesel with varying fatty acid methyl esters proportion. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.